I'm a Eurovision fan, but as a gay man and a Palestinian I can't support it this year | Elias Jahshan

I can’t get swept up in the camp, kitsch excitement around the 2019 song contest. The politics are too important

It’s hard not to love Eurovision: it’s camp, kitsch fun and I’m a sucker for power ballads and dance floor bangers. In recent years, I have been swept up in the excitement. But as the son of a Palestinian refugee and as a gay man, I simply cannot bring myself to take part in the revelries this year.

I’m not alone. With the grand final to be held in Tel Aviv on 18 May, there are widespread calls for artists and broadcast partners to boycott this year’s event in protest at host country Israel’s violations of the human rights of Palestinians.